Casting machine



Dec. 15, 1925' A. KAUFMANN CASTING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Awe/7 /ar.' fl/ber/ A au/mann A. KAUFMANN CASTING MACHINE Dec. 15 1925- 1,566,215

Filed June 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. KAUFMANN CASTING MACHINE Filed June 9. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

il 1 n 6 Hllllll]! AMV Dec 15 1925- 1,566,215

A. KAUFMANN CASTING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.ALBER'I. KAUFMANN, OF BERLIN, 'EERMANY.

(jasmine macnmn.

Application filed nine 9, 19 24. Serial no. 71s,a 2s.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT IC AUFMANNT,

a citizen of Germany, rcsiding'at Berlin,

Germany, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in (lastlng-Machrnes, of which the following 1s a specification.

reservoir which is charged with molten metal from a' crucible through thetap hole.-

-In machines of this type' as heretofore devised, the casting, reservoir in order to casting. In consequence thereof this valve W111 always remain perfectly tight.

In the second type of=machine in which thelevel of the fused metal in the'crucible -is lowered beneath the tap hole, this,lower-' 'ing can be'efi'ected by rocking the crucible about axis disposed sideways of the tap .hole, Or .else a body may be provided in the crucible which'displaces the fused metal so that its (level is lowered when this body lslralsed.

I prefer using a U-shaped casting reservoirtarranged to rotate about a verticalaxis beslde the crucible. However, that portion charge it was dipped into a stationary cruci-mof the reservoir which is connected with the ble from above or the reservoir was stationary and 'the crucible adapted to be raised, or else both the reservoir and the crucible were stationary and the'level of the fused metal in the crucible was raised above the dischargeopening of the reservoir.

It is an object of'myinvention to. provide a machine of the type described inwhich amovable casting reservoir cooperates with a stationary crucible, the movable casting reservoir having two operative positions. In one of these positions (charging position) the opening of'the reservoir is connectcd with the tap hole of the'crucible;

in the other position (casting position) the.

opening of the reservoir is connected with the opening of the mould, the connection of the casting reservoir with the crucible'being interrupted. I

The tap hole of the crucible must be provided with a valve for closing it when t is not connected with the reservoir or it must be disposed at such a level and the machine must be so designed that it is possible to lower the level of'thefused metal which as a rule is above the'tap hole, to beneath said hole-when the reservoir is not connected to the crucible.

In the first type crucibleis provided with a valve for closing its tap hole, the-valve is preferably so .de--

signed as to be open automatically when the mouth of the casting reservoir engages the crucible and is automatically closed again by the pressure of the fused metal. This arrangement involve's the advantage that the gas pressure never acts-on the valve in the crucible as no connection exists between the casting reservoir and the crucible during King the fused metal of machine in which the pressure gas conduit can also extend into the crucible,.the cross section of which in this case is preferably oval. Under certain conditions, this arrangement is preferred with consideration of the possibility of maintain- I at high temperature in the crucible.

,Preferably the capacity of the casting reservoir is such that one charge contains a quant1ty of metal which suffices for several castlng operations.

In the drawings affixed to this specification .and forming part thereof three machines embodying my invention are illus trateddi'agrammatically by way of example.

I In the drawings F g. 1 is a longitudinal-section, .gig. 1 1s a detail View, partly in section, a

Fig. 2 a plan view of the first form, thesection in Fig. 1 being taken on the line 1-1 in Fig. 2. k Figs. 3 and 4 are an elevation and a plan view, respectively, both partly in section, of the second modification,

Figs. 5 and. 6 being detail views illustrating parts of this machine, and, Fig. 7 is an elevation,

Fig. 8 is another elevation partly in section, taken from a different angle.

gig. 9 a plan view partly brokenaway, an

Fig. 10 an elevation of the crucible during the casting operation ofa machine of the third kind. I

In all figures a is the crucible, b the substantially U-shaped casting reservoir. A conduit 2 adapted to supply air or gas under pressure is connected with the longer shank of the reservoir, while a nozzle 0 is secured in the shorter shank.

Referring now.to Figs. 1 and 2, the nozzle .0 extends vertically upwards and the cruci ble a has a lateral extension d provided with an opening f forming a seat for a ball shaped valve 71.. The end of the extension is "curved at. 'g to conform to the curvature of the-nozzle c. The ball-shaped valve 72. which may be of an suitable material is forced on its seat f y-the pressure of the fused metaland closes the tap hole. 1

The casting reservoir 12 is arranged for rotation through an angle of 180 about a vertical axis, the rotation being limited in both its end positions by lateral checks i :is formed as one half 7) of a clutch, the

corresponding half 9 being secured to the I reservoir- 6. The part 1) is held engaged with the part 9 by means of a coil spring 1- whereby reciprocation of rack 11. causes reservoir b to rotate from the. charging position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to the casting position shown in dotand dashlines, or

' V108 versa.

The mould is formed in two parts 8 and t which are guided in the machine bed and are adapted to be'brought into engagement with one another by suitable means, such as forinstance a handle t and a system of links and levers. When the mould is closed,

it's charging hole u is in line with the nozzle c of the casting reservoir when this latter is in the casting position.

' After a molding operation of the machine, the mold .s, t is open, as shown in Fig, 1, and the casting reservoir is in the position shown in dot and dash lines. The rack 11. is also in the position shown in dot and dash lines.

By moving the rack 'n in the direction of the arrow V in Fig. 1 through the medium of hand. wheel m and pinion Z the casting reservoir 7) is rotated 180 in the direction of the arrow W in Fig, 2 into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, in which it engages the check is. The short shank of the casting reservoir is now in the posltion shown in Fig. 1 in which its nozzle 0 faces the curved face 9 formed in the extension d. If the rack 01. is moved farther in the direction-.of the arrow V, the reservoir I) cannot rotate farther in the direction of the arrow W, as the reservoir is arrested by the check 70. In consequence thereof, the clutch p, g is disengaged, the pinion a which is integral with the part pbeing lowered against the action of the spring 1-. At the same time a cam face 8 at the end of the reservoir Z) is engaged by a cam face 7 formed on the rack 11. so that the castin reservoir 1) is 'ra1sed. from the position siown in Fig. 1 into the positionjn full lines shown in Fig. 1. The nozzle 0 of the reservoir 6 enters the recess 9' and at the same time forces the ball 71. away from its seat f so that fused metal can flo-w from the crucible a into the casting reservoir through grooves 0' formed in the nozzle 0 as shown in Fig. 6. When the casting reservoir has been charged, the hand wheel m is turned in opposite direction displacing rack a counter to the direction of the arrow V, that is, to the right. In consequence thereof the casting reservoir b is released by the wedge 7 and allowed to return to'the position shown in Fig. 1

clutch p, 9 being closed. At the same time the tap hole 7 of the crucible a is closed by the ball-shaped valve h under the pressure of the fused metal. As the rack 71. moves further to the right, the casting reservoir 6 reaches the position shown in Fig. 1 in dotand dash-lines where the cam face 8 of reservoir b issuported by a cam face 9 formed on the machine bed. The mould 8, t is now closed by the handle t and compressed air or the like introduced into the reservoir through pipe 2, forcing the metal from the reservoir into the mould s, 25. When after making one or several castings the metal in the reservoir 6 has become exhausted,

the reservoir is returned to the charging position. Means may be provided for heating the casting reservoir b. Hand wheel 11?. can be replaced by a member which is operated automatically from the mould .s', t.

In the type of machine illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 the crucible a is provided with a lateral extension 10 in which is. formed a tap hole which may extend horizontally or substantially horizontally and may be closed by a ball-shaped valve 12. The nozzleend 13 of the oastingreservoir is bent. horizontally and the outer face of "nozzle 0 is curved concentrically with the axis of rotation of the reservoir 6, as shown in Fig. 4. The extension 10 is formed with a correspondingly curved recess 15. The casting reservoir 1) is operated by means of a rack16 through the medium of a pinion 17 and a clutch 18, 19 when the rack is moved. The rack 16 is connected with one half 20of the mould which can be moved toward the other half 22 by a system of links and levers 21.

When the machine is started, the casting reservoir is in the position shown in dotand dash-lines in Fig. 4 and the ballshaped valve 12 is forced down on its seat. Ribs 23 are provided for guiding the ball shaped valve 12 so that it is seated properly as shown in Fig. 5. Themould20, 22 which is open at this time is now closed by moving the part in contact with the part 22 by means of the links and levers 21 in the direction of the arrow 2 Li1rFig. 3. The rack 16 is moved with the part 20 in the direction of the arrow 24, causing the cast- '"lI g reservoir b to rotate in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 so that it assumes the position shown in full lines in Figs. 3 and 4. W' hen the casting reservoir is in this end or charging position, the nozzle 0 lifts the ball-shaped valve 12 froni its seat 11 and the liquid metal flows into the casting reservoir 7). If the 'rack is further moved after the casting reservoir has reached its .end position, the clutch 18, 1!) is automatically disengaged so that the rack ,can continue its movement to close the mould without influencing the casting reservoir 7).

In the machine illustrated by way of example a rod 26 is connected with the part 20 of the mould on which is formed a cam face 27 which in the charging position of the casting reservoir shown in Fig. 4 causes a tight engagement of the nozzle 0 and the recess 15. In the charging position of the casting reservoir the metal from the cruel; ble (1, flows-into the casting reservoir through the small passages 0 in the nozzle Q. \Vhen the casting reservoir has been charged, the closed mould 20, 22 moved toward the casting reservoir in the direction of the arrow by suitable means, not shown. The rack 16 moves also in the direction of the arrow and returns the casting reservoir into the dotand dash-line position in Fig. 4, while at the same-time the ball-shaped valve 12 closes the tap hole 11 of the crucible (1. The casting position of the reservoir is determined by a check 28 in the machine bed. \Vhen the casting reservoir 72 engages the check 28, the opening of its nozzle 0 exactly faces the charging opening 29 of the mould 20, 22. By further displacing the mould, it is pressed against the nozzle 0 of the casting reservoir and casting can beeflected by introducing gas or air under pressure into the casting reservoir through pipe .2. The part 22 of the mould isthen withdrawn, the casting is ejected and the machine is ready for the next operation.

In the machine illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10, the nozzle 0 is secured in a horizontally extending portion of the casting reservoir. The face 0 of the nozzle 0 is curved in all horizontal planes about the axis of rotation b of the casting reservoir I), while the vertical sections of the surface 0 are curved concentrically to a horizontal axis 0" of the nozzle, as shown in Fig. 8.

The crucible a is provided with a lateral tap hole 11,-the outer face 11 of which is curved in accordance with'the face c of the nozzle 0. -The casting reservoir 7) is moved from the casting position shown in Fig. 9

in dotand dash-lines into the charging posit on shown in full lines in Figs. 7, 8, and

9 by means of a rack 16, a pinion 17 and a clutch 18, 19 as described. The rack 16 is moved by a system of links and levers 21 which may also be utilized for closing the mould as described with reference to Figs. 3 to 6.

The crucible a is provided with two lugs supporting trunnions 32 about which it can be tilted. The tilting axis of the crucible a coincides with the axis a" in Fig. 8. At a point of the crucible opposite the trunnions 32 the crucible is suspended on a cable 33, to the other end of which is secured a balance weight which tends to hold the crucible with the fused metal in horizontal or substantially horizontal position during the charging of the casting reservoir 7.). A partition 35 is arranged in the crucible as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, which protects the discharge opening from scum or the like.

This machine operates as follows During charging the casting reservoir is in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 7 8 and 5), while the crucible a is in the horizontal or substantially horizontal position shown. in Fig. 8. Liquid metal flows into the casting reservoir 6 from the crucible through the tap hole 11 which in this position of the crucible is slightly below the level of the metal. When the casting reser- VOlI 7) has been charged, the crucible a is turned on its trunnions 32 into the position shown in Fig. 10 so that the level ofthe metal falls below the tap hole 11. The casting reservoir can now be rotated about its axis 6 into the casting position shown in dot and dash-lines in Fig. 9, whereupon compressed air is admitted through pipe .2 and casting is performed after the mould has been moved toward the casting reservoir, as described.

When the charge in the casting reservoir the tap hole 11, and the casting reservoir is recharged.

As the faces 0 and 11' are concentric to the axis a" and the crucible is tilted about this axis, the crucible and the casting reservoir are tightly connected notwithstanding 135 their relative rotation.

The balance weight 34 maintains the level of the fused metal in about the position shown in Fig. 8, even if less metal is in the crucible than shown in Fig. 8. In this case the vbalance weight 34 slightly -raises the crucible on the side op osite the tap hole so that the fused metal ri es again to the level shown in Fig. 8.

I wish it to be understo'pd that I do not desire tobe limited to. the exact details of construction shown and described, for; obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

1. A casting machinecomprising a mold,- a crucible for fused metal having an outlet port, a casting reservoir arranged exteriorly of the crucible and movablerelatively thei'eto and into register with said'port to re- .ceive metal from below the surface of the metal in the crucible, said reservoir being also movable into contact with the mold,

and means for acting on said reservoir with coinpi'cssed' -gas to discharge the metal from the reservoir into the mold.

2. A casting 'inachinecomprising a mold,

a cruciblejor fused metal having an.outlet port, a casting reservoir arranged exteriorly of the crucible and provided with a nozzle, said reservoir being movable relatively to the crucible for bringingthe nozzle into register with said port, topermit the reservoir to receive metal from below the surface of the metal in the crucible, said reservoir being also movable into engagement with the mold for discharging its metal into the mold, and means for acting on said reservoir for compressed gas to' discharge the metal therefrom;

A casting machine as claimed in claim 1 including mechanism for alternately connecting said reservoir with said crucible and said mold.

4. A casting machine as claimed in claim 1 inwhich the crucible is stationary andthe casting reservoir is oscillatable.

5. A casting machine as claimed in claim 1 including mechanism for oscillating the reservoir to bring the same alternately into engagement with the crucible and mold.

6. Casting-machine comprising a machine be'd,a mould, a castingreseivoii' adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis and to be displaced in parallelto said axis, a crucible means forsupplying gas under pressure to said reservoir, a rack arranged to rotate and to displace said casting reservoir, camfaces formed on said-casting reservoir, said rack and said machine bed and adapted to cooperate with each other and mechanism for displacing said rack; i

7 Casting machine comprising a machin bed, a mould, a casting reservoir adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis and to be displaced in parallel to said axis, a crucible, means or supplying gas under pressure to said reservoir, a rackv arranged to rotate and to displace said casting reservoir, resilient power transmitting mechanism interposed 'ducing .into

said crucible, a rack adapted to rotate and todisplacc said casting reservoir, resilient power transmitting mechanism interposed Jbetwecn said rack and said reservoir, mechamsm for automatically releasing said power transmitting mechanism after the said reservoir has completed .its stroke, mechanism for displacing sardrack and means for introsaid reservoir gas under pres- :sure.

'. 9. A casting machine comprisinga mold, a cruc ble spaced-from the mold and havingoutlet port, mechanism for opening and closing said mould, a movable casting reservoirarranged exteriorly'of the crucible and having a nozzle adapted to register with the outlet port to receive metal from below the surface of the metal in the crucible, said. reservoir being adapted to be connected with the mold, and means for introducing into said reservoir a gas under pressure for dis-- charging the metal from the reservoir into the mold.

10.-.- Casting machine comprising a mould,

astationary-crucible, a tap valve in said crucible, a movable casting reservoir,.means for introducing into said reservoir a gas.

under pressure and mechanism for alternately connecting said reservoir with ,said

metal supply and said mould, mechanism for alternately connecting said casting reservoir with said mould and said crucible and a nozzle on said reservoir capable of opening said valve. 4

11. A casting machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the reservoir is movable about a substantially vertical axis and includes a substantially U-shaped member. 12. Acasting machine comprising a mold formed of relatively movable sections, mechanism for moving one of said sections for opening and closing. the mold, a crucible having an outlet port, a casting reservoir arranged exteriorly of the crucible and having a nozzle adapted to be brought into register with said port for receiving metal from below the surface of the metal in said crucible, means for introducing gas under pressure into said reservoir, and mechanism for opening and closing said mold and for displacing said mold, said mechanism being adapted to connect said reservoir with said crucible when said mold is closed and to connect said reservoir with said mold when said mold is displaced.

13. Casting machine comprising a mould,

- a stationary crucible with. a lateral tap hole,

a casting reservoir adapted to be rotated, means for supplying gas under pressure to said casting reservoir, a horizontal bend formed at one end of said reservoir, a nozzle in said bend, a seat formed in said tap hole and adapted to be engaged by said nozzle,

supplying gas under pressure to said castlng reservoir, mechanism for rotating and displacing said casting reservoir and means for alternately connecting it with said mould and said crucible, said displacing mechanism being adapted to raise said reservoir to a position in which said nozzle engages said tap hole.

15. A casting machine comprising a machine bed, a mold, a crucible with an outlet port, a casting reservoir adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis and arranged ex teriorly of the crucible, said reservoir having a nozzle adapted to register with said port and to receive metal from below the surface of the metal in said crucible, said reservoir being also engageable with said mold, means for supplying gas under pressure to said reservoir for discharging the metal from the reservoir into said mold, a rack arranged to osclllate sald reservolr,

cam faces formed on said reservoir and crucible and adapted to cooperate with each other, and mechanism for displacing said rack, said cam faces being adapted to guide the nozzle endof the reservoir into engagement with the crucible.

16. Casting machine comprising a mould, a crucible for fused metal, a movable casting reservoir, means for introducing into sald reservoir a gas under pressure,'mechanism for alternately connecting said reservoir with said crucible and said mould and a nozzle on said reservoir comprising a central passage and a by-pass.

17. A casting machine comprising a mold having an inlet, a crucible to contain fused metal and provided with an outlet port, an oscillatable casting reservoir having a nozzle adapted to register with said outlet port to receive metal from below the surface of the metal in the crucible, said nozzle being adapted to engage the inlet of the mold for discharging the metal into the mold, means for introducing gas under pressure into the reservoir for discharging the metal from the reservoir, and means for oscillating said reservoir.

18. A casting machine as claimed in claim 17 in which said outlet port is normally closed by a valve.

In testimony whereof I af'fix my signature.

ALBERT KAUFMANN. r 

